In the Spotlight: Featured Resources

Do you have a resource that you would like to be considered for our "Featured Resource" section? Please submit to: [email protected]. We also have an entire "Resource" section on our site to check out and please let us know if there is a resource you would like added! Thank you!

Five Wishes takes the guessing out of caring. It is a legal document that guides you through planning before a health crisis. More than just an advance directive, Five Wishes brings a holistic approach to a living will by including an individual’s care and comfort choices. It provides a means to legally document your choices for medical treatment, comfort, and care wishes. ​Five Wishes is used in all 50 states and in countries around the world. It meets the legal requirements of 42 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. In the other eight states, a completed Five Wishes can be used with the state’s required form.​Click here for more information.

Alium Adaptive Apparel was founded in 2017 to address the growing need for better functioning clothes for seniors and their caregivers. They manufacturer soft, stretchy, and durable garments in the U.S.A. that hold up to the rigor of community use. Alium Adaptive Apparel creates garments that assist in minimizing skin abrasion, allow dignified access points for a caregiver to address issues such as incontinence and injury, and demonstrate through high-quality and stylish garments that the comfort of seniors is the top priority. Founder, Carla Macklin, has provided helpful charts and advice for individuals and caregivers affected by dementia, incontinence, stroke, and Parkinson's. Go to our Resources for Dressing page to view more those.

Chemocare.com:Chemocare.com is a comprehensive resource for cancer patients and their caregivers that provides chemotherapy drug and side effect information, cancer wellness information, and links to additional reliable resources and organizations. While undergoing cancer treatment at Cleveland Clinic, Scott Hamilton, an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, discovered that it was difficult to find a reliable online resource where information about chemotherapy was presented in a clear, easy to understand and easy to locate format. As a result, his idea to create a patient friendly

PACE organizations provide care and services in the home, the community, and the PACE center. They have contracts with many specialists and other providers in the community. Many PACE participants get most of their care from staff employed by the PACE organization in the PACE center. PACE centers meet State and Federal safety requirements and include adult day programs, medical clinics, activities, and occupational and physical therapy facilities.

The focus of every PACE organization is to help you live in the community for as long as possible. To meet this goal, PACE organizations focus on preventive care. Although all people enrolled in PACE are eligible for nursing home care, only 7 percent live in nursing homes.

To qualify for PACE, a person must be age 55 or over, live in a PACE service area, and be certified by the state to need a nursing home level care.

PACE uses Medicare and Medicaid funds to cover all of your medically-necessary care and services. You can have either Medicare or Medicaid or both to join PACE.

Founded in the late 1970s, Family Caregiver Alliance is the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care for loved ones at home.FCA, as a public voice for caregivers, shines light on the challenges caregivers face daily and champions their cause through education, services, and advocacy.The services, education programs, and resources FCA provides are designed with caregivers’ needs in mind and offer support, tailored information, and tools to manage the complex demands of caregiving.

These include:

►FCA CareJourney is a secure online solution for quality information, support, and resources for family caregivers.​►Family Care Navigator, sponsored by the NCC, helps caregivers locate support services state-by-state.►National Center on Caregiving (NCC) unites research, policy, and practice to advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective programs and policies for caregivers in every state.►Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center is the CRC for the six-county San Francisco Bay Area, operated by FCA. Our Family Consultants work closely with families caring for ill or elderly loved ones.

You can find helpful caregiver resources, tip sheets, videos, webinars, and much more! Click her to go to the Family Caregiver Alliance.

​Legal Assistance Programs (by State):

This website contains information about a wide variety of public legal service providers. Whether you just need to ask basic legal questions through a legal hotline or you need more extended attorney services through a legal aid program, legalhotlines.org can help you locate the applicable services in your area by selecting your state from the map or clicking on their resources link.

On specific pages, you will find the following contact information for your state: the local Area Agency on Aging, the legal service developer, the statewide legal services website, a statewide list of legal service providers for seniors, and a list of all legal hotlines operating in your state.

Legalhotlines.org is solely providing legal resource references as information. Legalhotlines.org is NOT engaging in the practice of law or entering into any attorney/client relationship.

​A simple and easy thing for anyone to do that is concerned about their loved one(s) receiving telemarketing calls, and possibly even being the victim of a scam. You can register up to three numbers at once and it only takes a minute!

​And, if you want to take it even a step further - especially if you have a loved one that is living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia - you might want to look into teleCalm. Tavis Schriefer founded teleCalm in 2015 after his mother was repeatedly the target of scammers and telemarketers, trying to drain her bank account. He created this product/service to help seniors safely stay connected with friends and family, while prolonging their independence.

​GoGoGrandparent turns on demand transportation companies like Lyft into services that help families take better care of older adults.

​The Mission of the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation is to help prevent medical errors by ensuring patients and families have the KNOWLEDGE they need to promote a safe hospital experience for their loved ones, and to support innovative advancements in patient safety. Their greatest hope is that families, patients, and caregivers will work together as a TEAM to improve safety in our hospitals.

Click here to access the site and their resources for patients and families/caregivers.

​If you are managing your own health, or a family member's, this website/app is a must! It will help you stay organized. With it, you can: manage medications in detail and keep an up-to-date list both electronically and print; upload pictures and files - including medical orders and prescriptions; add notes; store all medical contacts; utilize the calendar feature for all appointments; even invite others to access the information...and more!

​Blink believes that everyone should have access to fair and affordable prescription prices. Whether you are insured, uninsured or something in between, Blink offers some of the lowest prices on over 15,000 medications.There are no membership fees and no monthly premiums.

Blink Health is the new way for all Americans to save on their prescriptions. With their proprietary technology, everyone now has access to one, low negotiated price on over 15,000 medications. Simply pay online before you pick up at your pharmacy to save up to 95%.

Pay online and pick up at over 57,000 pharmacies nationwide.

You need to have internet access to utilize this resource. And, some newer, more cutting-edge drugs might not be covered.

The Moyer FoundationCamp Erin & Camp Mariposa

The Moyer Foundation has two FREE camps for children and teens:

Camp Erinis the largest national bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6-17 attend a transformational weekend camp that combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support, free of charge for all families. Led by grief professionals and trained volunteers, Camp Erin provides a unique opportunity for youth to increase levels of hope, enhance self-esteem, and especially to learn that they are not alone.

Camp Erin is offered in every Major League Baseball city as well as additional locations across the U.S. and Canada. The Moyer Foundation partners with hospices and bereavement organizations to bring hope and healing to thousands of grieving children and teens each year.

Camp Mariposa is a national addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth who have been impacted by substance abuse in their families. Camp Mariposa is offered free of charge to all families.Children ages 9-12 attend transformational weekend camps multiple times a year. Campers participate in fun traditional camp activities combined with education and support exercises led by mental health professionals and trained mentors.Click here for more information.

An online resource that is part of the PBS system, Next Avenue has served over 35 million people since launching in 2012.Their mission is to meet the needs and unleash the potential of older Americans through the power of media. They cover the following topics:

Health & Well-Being

Money & Security

Caregiving

Work & Purpose

Living & Learning

Direct from their site:"Next Avenue has served over 35 million people since we launched in 2012. Every day, we invite readers to consider what is next, what lies just ahead and what will be revealed in their lives. By exploring questions big and small, we spark action — 95% of readers take an action after reading our stories — and open up a world of possibilities.Next Avenue is unique among today’s media:

We are part of the PBS system, so you can trust us to deliver public media quality.

We are journalists and experts passionate about serving our audience.

We have built a network of impeccable sources and prestigious partnerships.

We’re not here for the bottom line, but to make a difference in the lives of our audience."

What a great idea! GoGo Grandparent allows individuals to access on demand transportation (like Uber) without having a smart phone. They can use a land line or an older cell phone. From their website:"GoGoGrandparent wants to let folks live in their home for as long as possible. We started because a grandmother's license was expiring, she had glaucoma in both eyes and was facing a future where she would be dependent on others. By using on demand technology in a way she could understand, we were able to change that.​ Today GoGoGrandparent connects seniors to Uber. Soon we'll be doing the same thing for meals, groceries and medicine. We are working towards a platform that loved ones and their families can use to take care of each other without upending life."Click here for more information.

The National Council on Aging's Fall Free Initiative

Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.

Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans.

One-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.

Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,700 deaths.

Adjusted for inflation, the annual direct medical costs for fall injuries are $31 billion. Hospital costs account for two-thirds of the total.

By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $67.7 billion.

Falling is not a "natural" part of aging. There are things YOU CAN DO to help PREVENT yourself and/or a loved one from falling.

Right to Try

Over 1 million Americans die from a terminal illness every year.

The FDA drug approval process can take up to 15 years.

Right to Try legislation, already law in 33 states and under consideration in 17 more, gives terminally ill patients the right to try investigational medicines that have not yet received full FDA approval.

Caring Across Generations is a national movement of families, caregivers, people with disabilities and aging Americans working to transform the way we care in this country. By harnessing the power of online action, grassroots organizing and innovative culture change work, they are shifting how our nation values caregiving and calling for policy solutions that enable all of us to live and age with dignity and independence.

(What they are fighting for, from their website):Access to quality, dignified, affordable care choices.Nursing homes are exorbitantly expensive — and ninety percent of people actually prefer to age at home or closely connected to the people and places they love. We need bold new public and private programs that will increase access to quality home- and community-based services, and affordable long-term care coverage with robust standards and benefits.

More support for families.Eighty percent of care is provided by a family member, making family caregivers the front lines of our nation’s Careforce. Many of these family caregivers are squeezed between caring for children and an aging parent. We’re calling for in-home training, workplace flexibility, and increased public awareness of the burdens and economic impact of family caregiving. Families shouldn’t have to bear the burden of caregiving alone.

1 million more quality, caregiving jobs — with adequate training, living wages and benefits. By 2030, we will be short of 1 million home care workers if we stay the current course. But as it stands, the care workforce is devalued and underpaid. To retain people who love and are skilled at what they do, homecare jobs must be quality jobs; care workers should be able to build their skills and move forward on a care career lattice, which includes basic job protections; and federal and state investments must be made to improve our immigration system and ensure higher worker standards, including a living wage.

NeedyMeds is a national non-profit organization that maintains a website of free information on programs that help people who can't afford medications and healthcare costs. They regularly update data on over 9,000 assistance programs, 15,000 free/low-cost/sliding scale clinics and nearly 1,500 drug discount coupons. They also publish information about resources for specific diseases.

NeedyMeds was founded in 1997 by Richard J. Sagall, MD, a family physician, and Libby Overly, MSW, MEd, a medical social worker. They realized there was a need for a centralized resource for information on pharmaceutical patient assistance programs. Since, more than 1.3 million patients, family members, healthcare professionals, social workers, and patient advocates use the NeedyMeds website each year. All information is accessible at no charge and without registration.

VocaliD

Disease, disabilities and serious injuries can rob individuals of their voice.

Whether you or a loved one are in need of a voice that can actually sound like you/them (instead of the generic computerized voices), or you are interested in giving the priceless gift of voice to someone else, please check out this video and this website. What an amazing company founded by a true visionary!

About VocaliD:

"I founded VocaliD to create custom crafted voices — so that every voice is heard."— RUPAL PATEL, FOUNDER & CEOOver ten million people live with voicelessness. Much like Stephen Hawking, they rely on text-to-speech devices to express themselves. Yet, young or old, male or female, shy or outgoing — they all speak with similar voices. Add to that the hundreds of millions who use generic sounding virtual assistants, GPS navigation and screen readers. Digital voices must evolve.

VocaliD is the voice company that is bringing speaking machines to life. We leverage our voicebank and proprietary voice blending technology to create unique vocal persona for any device that turns text into speech.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids(CFHK) is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards.

Anyone can get involved. Individuals of all ages can support this effort and it can make a wonderful group project/activity. Individuals and groups across the United States, and world, donate time and creativity to make handmade cards and send them to CFHK for distribution in hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation.

In the five years since CFHK began, 100,000 kids in hospitals in all 50 states have received cards!

Are you concerned about a loved one's driving? Are you concerned about your own driving? How can you tell if your loved one (or you) is safe to be driving ? Don't wait too long to find out! And there are certainly many other people that share the roads with us every day and we must consider their safety as well. Get the help you need today!

Keeping Us Safe is an organization that provides practical, real-life solutions to older drivers and their families. Founded in 2008 by Matt Gurwell, former Assistant District Commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, their programs are designed to save lives while simultaneously helping to ease the burden of the family as they find themselves faced with this very challenging issue. Their services are currently being offered throughout the United States and Canada.

They provide:

timely relief to families in need as they face the challenging issue of a loved-one’s diminishing driving skills as a result of the natural aging process,

assistance and supports to older drivers as they face the emotional issue of a driving retirement, and

educational programs for professionals as they find themselves confronted with this issue in a professional setting

VOR is a national organization that advocates for high quality care and human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.VOR promises to empower you to make and protect quality of life choices for individuals with developmental disabilities.Click here for their website and more information.

​The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide free, in depth, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, friends, and caregivers. SHIPs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are grant-funded projects of the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL).

​This website provides free guides, and each guide gives parents of children with disabilities a step-by-step walkthrough of the topic, featuring:

Key information from expert sources written in plain, easy to read wording

A personalized checklist of action items, based on your answers in the Guide

Saved progress so you can come back to your Guide at any time, on any device

​If you care about your health and/or the health of your loved one(s), you need to know about TheEnvironmental Working Group (EWG). They are fighting for us - every day. Check out their website to access their free guides on what's safe and what's not - as far as the foods we eat, the water we drink, the personal care products and cleaning supplies we use, and much more. There is a lot of great information for consumers, and opportunities to engage in advocacy efforts to protect ourselves and our environment from harmful chemicals.Click here for EWG.

Have you ever worried about a loved one wandering, or getting lost, and not being able to communicate essential information when found? ​Whether it is your child, parent, spouse, sibling, or another loved one...this can help.

​Created by parents out of love and concern for their son who has Autism, If I Need Help is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization working to reunite those who are lost, disoriented or can’t self-advocate with their loved ones and caregivers.

They offer a free online member profile and Emergency Q&A that can be edited in real time and emailed or printed in an emergency. Their QR Code Technology can be accessed by computer or cell phone to provide help, emergency iD and peace of mind. Their customizable iD products include iD cards, wearables (such as shoe/dog tags, patches, pins/clips, bracelets) and apparel.

​​What an incredible resource! There are more than 30 Hope Lodges in the United States, serving more than 50,000 cancer patients and their caregivers each year - free of charge.

Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows guests to focus on getting well. Hope Lodge provides a nurturing, home-like environment where guests can retreat to private rooms or connect with others. Every Hope Lodge also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer as well.​Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location. To find out more about a Hope Lodge and to see if there is one in an area that you need, click here.

​ConsumerMedSafety.org is designed to help consumers avoid mistakes when taking medicines. It is provided by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) which is based in suburban Philadelphia and is the nation’s only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. ISMP represents over 35 years of experience in helping healthcare practitioners keep patients safe, and continues to lead efforts to improve the medication use process. The organization is known and respected worldwide as the premier resource for impartial, timely, and accurate medication safety information.

Visit their site and get the latest FDA medication alerts, research medication safety articles, access tools and resources, report a medication error, and more.

CaringInfo (formerly known as Caring Connections) is a national consumer education and engagement program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Since 2004, CaringInfo has provided millions of advance directives to individuals free of charge plus free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis.

What a fantastic resource. If you or your loved one(s) need help navigating the healthcare system and/or hospital stays (or find yourself needing it in the future), this is an amazing website.

Engaged Patients is a national campaign under the guidance of the Empowered Patient Coalition non-profit with the vision that all patients and their loved ones have free access to the tools and the resources they need to be fully informed and participating members of their health care teams. A project promoting patient education and health care safety, they are dedicated to supporting patient engagement and reducing health care issues that result in miscommunication, medical errors and adverse events.

They educate members of the public, family members, caregivers and advocates on patient safety issues - at no cost.

​The Caregiver Action Network is working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. CAN serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease. CAN (formerly the National Family Caregivers Association) is a non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge.​Click here for their website and more information.

The HealthWell Foundation

Founded in 2003, The HealthWell Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to insured patients living with chronic and life-altering illnesses to help them afford their medical treatments.

For many Americans, having health insurance does not mean being able to afford the critical medical treatments they desperately need. When health insurance is not enough, HealthWell assists in closing the gap. They put life-saving medications within reach for hundreds of patients in need every day by helping them to pay their share of prescription drug copayments, deductibles, and health insurance premiums for important medical treatments.

As patients are required to pay a larger share of health care costs each year, out-of-pocket expenses for essential medications can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars a month—much more than many people earn. By reducing this financial stress, the people they serve can focus on what's most important—their health.

ProPublica's Nursing Home Inspect Tool

Use ProPublica's Nursing Home Inspect tool to compare nursing homes in a state based on the deficiencies cited by regulators and the penalties imposed in the past three years. You can also search over 60,000 nursing home inspection reports to look for trends or patterns. Click here to access the tool.

In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), we are featuring the Ageless Alliance.

The mission of Ageless Alliance is to eliminate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. ​​Elder Abuse Forensic Center addresses cases of identified elder abuse in order to bring justice to the perpetrator and safety to the victim. This is accomplished through weekly meetings of professionals (law enforcement, social workers, doctors, and attorneys) who conduct coordinated in home assessments, case plans, and follow-up. They have served over 1,100 older adults who have been financially exploited, neglected, degraded, and physically battered.

Born out of the desire to prevent elder abuse, Ageless Alliance created a pilot program that connects trained and vetted volunteers with vulnerable older adults. Currently, all referrals come from the Elder Abuse Forensic Center and Adult Protective Services. Their volunteers address a variety of unmet needs, being a friend and advocate to those who may be alone and at-risk of re-victimization. Want to see some of the ways they are making a difference? Visit their Impact Page here.

​Don't forget about this wonderful resource for you or your loved one. Seniors facing a variety of life circumstances can benefit from this program, and families can experience some peace of mind. It can be set up for both short- and long-term needs, and offers more than food - it's companionship and a watchful eye.

Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through their network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs. While the diversity of each program's services and operations may vary based on the needs and resources of their communities, they are all committed to supporting their senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.

For those who have trouble getting around, they bring the service to them. For those who can still venture out into their communities, they serve in gathering places, such as senior centers and community facilities.

Do you know a deserving senior who would benefit from a Wish fulfilled? Or are you a senior who has dreamed of doing something that would have a positive impact on your life?

Make a change for someone special. Nominating a senior for a Wish can be a life-changing experience for you and the senior.

Wishes are submitted via their online application form. Anyone can submit a wish, and all applications are reviewed carefully by their wish team.

​The Digital Mosaic's online video storytelling platform makes capturing and preserving the important moments of your life into an unforgettable experience that's perfect to share with your whole family. Let our SimplyTold iPad and iPhone app guide you and your family through the process. We have over 350 questions to get you started on what to talk about, and then our easy upload tool makes sure your device storage is free for all those cute cat videos. Click here for more information and to download the Simplytold app for your iPad or iPhone.

Do you or a loved one have an upcoming medical procedure to schedule? If so, you might want to take a little time to weigh your options before making that appointment. These tests do NOT cost the same everywhere...pricing differs depending on where you go! Check out this site before you schedule that procedure.​Save On Medical is an online marketplace where patients can shop online for medical procedures using price transparency to help them make informed care decisions based on cost, quality or convenience — similar to the way Expedia does for travel.

Check out this recent "Nightly News" clip with Lester Holt on Save On Medical...

​CancerCare is a leading national organization dedicated to providing free support services and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. 800-813-HOPE. Watch this video to learn more.

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care​The Consumer Voice is a leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. They are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual.

Locate an Ombudsman

It is so important to know your local/state ombudsman and advocates if you/loved one are receiving long-term care and/or services.

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care was formed as NCCNHR (National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) in 1975 because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes. The Consumer Voice is the outgrowth of work ﬁrst achieved by advocates working for Ralph Nader and later for the National Gray Panthers. Elma Holder, NCCNHR founder, was working with The Long-Term Care Action Project of the Gray Panthers when she organized a group meeting of advocates from across the country to attend a nursing home industry conference in Washington, DC. At that meeting, representatives of 12 citizen action groups spoke collectively to the industry about the need for serious reform in nursing home conditions.The consumer attendees were inspired to develop a platform of common concerns and motivated to form a new organization to represent the consumer voice at the national level. Most of the original members had witnessed and endured personal experiences with substandard nursing home conditions.

​Justice in Aging is a national non-profit legal advocacy organization that fights senior poverty through law.

Formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center, since 1972 they have worked for access to affordable health care and economic security for older adults with limited resources, focusing especially on populations that have traditionally lacked legal protection such as women, people of color, LGBT individuals, and people with limited English proficiency.

Through targeted advocacy, litigation, and the trainings and resources they provide to local advocates, they ensure access to the social safety net programs that poor seniors depend on, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

They are also part of the National Legal Resource Center (NLRC) and coordinate with other NLRC partners to provide case consultations and training to the aging network on legal needs facing older adults.